Finding Zen (With BTS' JIMIN)

12. Is This How I'm Going?

Soon they got back, apologising to the other, but thanking them deeply for their offer.

One day the tickets were finally booked and Zen stretched as she turned her laptop off. In three months she would be there and the moment her jet lag would begin to clear, she would be shoving herself in for work - a whole year in a fellowship.

Time to text Azia... it's been too long...

Shouldn't forget to tread lightly...

HIM

It had been a while since they had all finished their mandatory services and they had taken a while to relax with their families as well and now they were back together to re- start working again.

Work had kept him occupied most of the time and Tae was around him a lot to keep him from exploding. He regretted hiding a lot of what had happened and all those white lies, but he hadn't felt ready to lay it all out to even Tae. Hoseok had also been really keen eyed over his roommate and made sure he was staying healthy despite the wars in his head.

Then came the press conferences and interviews season. Soon it would be album showcase, fansigns and concerts after the comeback stages.

He dozed off again as he was getting his hair and makeup done, zoning out as they got styled and briefed. Tae was keeping his eyes from glazing over with his clouded thoughts as Hoseok energized the gang.

It was the end of the year and the boys were back in the US for a few guest appearance on shows here and there.

Their managers sent them up and just before the cameras got rolling Namjoon muttered a low 'hope they know their limits with the questions'. They still knew that they would dry to wring out information about the album as well, especially since they had enlisted in two phases and it was basically their first project as seven again and the whole world basically had their eyes on the gen 3 group that stood strong even as their gen 4 donsaengs held the batons.

The few questions about the new album they all knew enough words and phrases to deflect off and then came a staggering number of questions about their military enlistment. Being unseen on the western industry scene, it had made a lot of fans really curious. In the past they had even tried to get them exception just so that they could stay as high as they were. The requests had been noted and the company decided to split them into the most tactical two phases possible, trying to preserve their spot like the fans had wanted with subunit and solo activities.

These questions had to mainly be left to Namjoon who didn't have anything really prepared and winged it as safely as he could. Seing that it was exhausting him and that the others were quiet except for a tiny 'yes' or nod when Namjoon tried to ask around to clear the mood up, their manager stepped in to ask for a change to a lighter theme.

The seven sat up straight and instantly wore a brighter expression, chucking their thoughts aside, but the question that did come was something that they had been asked so often and yet they still failed to see coming.

"So... your fans are so stable, but they're curious that this might have changed especially after you all enlisted... They have been constantly wondering about your ideal types..."

This caught Namjoon off guard and seeing their managers concerbed behind the camera didn't help. He decided to translate it to the others in Korean first and he totally exploited that move since they knew that they would still end up editing it all out or he hoped so.

"Well... just becareful what you say... they will try to push it... they want to know ideal types but just be general..."

He turned to face the camera giving someone else a chance and Tae spoke up.

"All the fans are our girlfriends~"

The interviewer seemed to want more as he spoke 'and boyfriends..." before he shifted his gaze right at Jimin who was already feeling nauseous enough and trying not to get stuck in his head and so he looked at Tae for a second and spoke really slowly.

"What... matters... is their inner... true personality..."

Namjoon hummed and gave them a translation. Jimin took a few deep breaths and shifted in his seat before sitting in the same frozen position again.

"He said that we don't really have an ideal look... their personalities would be... like the game changer.."

He didn't seem to really back down with questions at all.

"Hm... a lot of people have asked this to Jungkook... on the same lines..."

The maknae looked at him and then at Namjoon pointing at himself and Namjoon gave him a nod, making Jungkook turn his attention to the interviewer again.

"Some say you're... sacred... of girls... but anyways... that I don't know of... but... You've supposedly always claimed that the legendary singer-songwriter-actress IU was your ideal type... has that changed..? Well... It doesn't matter if not too... I mean... she is a truly gorgeous woman..."

All Jungkook had got was her name and deep down he knew he was younger back then and didn't want to use too many examples when he didn't actually feel comfortable with women he didn't know close enough.

Namjoon translated it to him, it was pretty clear that he had had enough, and as if re-explaining he just told him to seem natural. Their staff used the time to ask them to end it soon claiming that they had another schedule soon.

"No...I mean... no offence but I do care a lot about the personality and so... I might need to get to know a person really well before I can even decide..."

Namjoon translated it a little more curt and to the point.

"As is for us all, even Jungkook cares about the personality most."

The interviewer nodded and with a few more general questions on how they felt to be back together and about their old albums still being huge, the whole charade ended and the boys all just crashed into their beds, beat.

Soon all the lights went out and they all had fallen asleep, but for one who was worried that something he had done had made the interviewer point him with that question. It could have also been just by chance, but it still made him worry. He sure was glad Tae had been there. The worry was keeping him awake and so he pulled out his phone to flip through the pictures of his journal entry again since he had stashed the journal in his wardrobe.

When Tae had woken up? a while latern to get himself some water, he had gone to check on his best friend who was asleep, phone still in hand.

He probably doesn't even know he passed out...

Silently thinking to himself, Tae put his phone aside along with a bottle of water that he had picked up from the kitchen and tucked him in under his duvet, before he quietly shutthedoor and went to nap, hoping not to wake up until it was time for food.